Exploring healthcare students’ experiences of Schwartz rounds: interprofessional reflective forums

Background/Aims Schwartz Rounds support shared reflection and compassionate practice among healthcare professionals, offering potential benefits for students’ emotional resilience and interprofessional education. Understanding how these forums could benefit students is essential. This study explored healthcare students’ experiences of Schwartz Rounds at the University of Northampton, examining the perceived impact on emotional insight, compassionate care and interprofessional collaboration. Methods A mixed-methods online survey was completed by 10/40 students who had attended at least one Schwartz Round. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative data were thematically analysed. Results Participants reported emotional resonance, psychological safety and perceived benefits to providing compassionate care and engaging in interprofessional education. Three themes emerged: emotional validation and connection, a safe and supportive environment, and insights and compassion. Conclusions Schwartz Rounds offer a promising pedagogical tool for fostering emotional resilience and interprofessional understanding in healthcare education. Implications for practice Future research should explore integration of Schwartz Rounds in formal interprofessional education curricula, focusing on the long-term impact on students’ professional development and collaborative practices.